Caladium plant named ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’, characterized by its tall and upright to somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; fancy-type leaves that are dark green and reddish brown in color with random deep pink-colored spots and flecks and dark purple-colored venation and petioles that are dark brown to almost black in color.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2012 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Red Flash’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium X hortulanum ‘Thai 4’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Avon Park, Fla. in September, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Tall and upright to somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and         bushy appearance.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Fancy-type leaves that are dark green and reddish brown in         color with random deep pink-colored spots and flecks and dark         purple-colored venation.     -   4. Petioles that are dark brown to almost black in color.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Red Flash’, in leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green and reddish brown in color with random deep pink-colored spots and flecks and dark purple-colored venation whereas leaves of ‘Red Flash’ have red-colored venation and interveinal areas with pink and white-colored spots and dark green-colored borders. In addition, plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of ‘Red Flash’ in leaf petiole color as plants of the new Caladium have dark brown to almost black-colored leaf petioles whereas plants of ‘Red Flash’ have reddish pink to tannish pink-colored leaf petioles with dark stripes.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Thai 4’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are larger, are more vigorous and         grow faster than plants of ‘Thai 4’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium are more freely branching when         than plants of ‘Thai 4’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Thai 4’ differ in leaf color         as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green and reddish brown         in color with random deep pink-colored spots and flecks and dark         purple-colored venation whereas leaves of ‘Thai 4’ are bronze         red in color with random pink-colored spots and almost         black-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Burning Heart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,071. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Burning Heart’ in leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green and reddish brown in color with random deep pink-colored spots and flecks and dark purple-colored venation whereas leaves of ‘Burning Heart’ are bronze red in color with contrasting salmon orange-colored spots and dark red bronze-colored venation. In addition, plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of ‘Burning Heart’ in leaf petiole color as plants of the new Caladium have dark brown to almost black-colored leaf petioles whereas plants of ‘Burning Heart’ have tan and green-colored leaf petioles.

Plants of the new Caladium also can be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘John Peed’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘John Peed’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘John         Peed’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of the new Caladium are dark green and reddish         brown in color with random deep pink-colored spots and flecks         and dark purple-colored venation whereas leaves of plants of         ‘John Peed’ have red-colored centers and red-colored venation         with olive green-colored margins.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ in leaf petiole         color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are dark brown to         almost black in color whereas leaf petioles of ‘John Peed’ are         dark pink in color with dark green to almost black-colored         streaks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is side perspective view of ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ (left) and the female parent, ‘Red Flash’ (right).

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is side perspective view of the male parent, ‘Thai 4’ (left) and ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ (right).

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 4) is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Burning Heart’ (left) and ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ (right).

The photograph on the fifth sheet (FIG. 5) is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ (left) and ‘John Peed’ (right).

The photograph on the sixth sheet (FIG. 6) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’.

The photograph on the seventh sheet (FIG. 7) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’.

The photograph on the eighth sheet (FIG. 8) is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ grown in an open production field.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shade house were twelve weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘RFL THAI     OF13-1055’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Red Flash’             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Thai 4’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             are large and elliptic in shape. Height: About 4.5 cm.             Diameter: About 5.9 cm to 9.8 cm. Segment height: About 2.2             cm to 3.7 cm. Segment diameter: About 2.4 cm to 5.9 cm.             Axillary bud shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud size:             About 5 mm by 6 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat             brittle. Color: Periderm, freshly-harvested: Close to 199A.             Periderm, dried: Close to 200A. Epidermis: Close to 159A and             177D; when developing, close to 179D. Cortical tissue: Close             to 2C and 2D. Axillary buds: Close to 54D tinged with close             to N186A.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy contractile roots with few             lateral branches; color, close to NN155D.         -   Rooting habit.—Very dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Tall and upright to somewhat             mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous             growth habit and rapid growth rate; potted plants finish in             saleable form in about four to six weeks after planting             tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more             growing points on tubers; leaf petioles initially upright             and leaning outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants.—When tubers are de-eyed, about 44             cm to 53 cm; tubers not de-eyed, about 65 cm to 76 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of floral plane, shade             house-grown potted plants.—When tubers are de-eyed, about             44.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted             plants.—When tubers are de-eyed, about 57 cm to 60 cm;             tubers not de-eyed, about 60 cm to 76 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About eight to ten develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About two to three develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About             6.7 cm to 10 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm to 2.1 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate to elliptic. Apex: Variable, obtuse to             emarginate. Base: Sheathing the stein. Color: Outer surface:             Close to 182D densely stippled and streaked with close to             between 200A and N200A or may be entirely close to 202A;             color becoming closer to N200A and 200B with development.             Inner surface: Close to 56D; colors and patterns on outer             surface visible on inner surface. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants.—When tubers are             de-eyed, about 17 cm to 19 cm; tubers not de-eyed, about 30             cm to 37 cm.         -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants, flattened.—When             tubers are de-eyed, about 13 cm to 15 cm; tubers not             de-eyed, about 14.5 cm to 26.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate; becoming slightly more obovate with             development.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate, cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; dull             sheen.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; areas             surrounding the veins are slightly glaucous; dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate.         -   Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—Fully developed             leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to 177A and             178A variably flushed with close to 139A, NN137A and 147A.             Margins: Close to 187C. Basal notch: Close to 187C. Midvein             and primary venation: Close to N186A and 202A; areas             surrounding venation, close to 183B and 183C. Random spots             and flecks: Close to 180D, 181D variably tinged with close             to 186D. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Background             color: Close to 189A variably flushed with close to 200A;             interveinal areas, close to 197B faintly tinged with close             to 200A. Margins: Close to 187A and 187B. Basal notch: Close             to 187B. Midvein: Close to 176B, 176C and 182D; areas             surrounding midvein, variably tinged with close to N200A and             202A. Primary venation: Close to 196C and N200C occasionally             tinged with close to 49C or N186A; areas surrounding             midvein, variably tinged with close to 49D. Secondary             venation: Close to N186C. Spots and flecks: Close to N155C,             49D and lighter than 63C.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning             outwardly with development; flexible. Length, shade             house-grown potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 33             cm to 48 cm; tubers not de-eyed, about 50 cm to 62 cm.             Diameter, distally, shade house-grown potted plants: When             tubers are de-eyed, about 4 mm; tubers not de-eyed, about 4             mm to 7.5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown potted             plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 5 mm to 7 mm; tubers             not de-eyed, about 10 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; dull sheen. Color, shade house-grown potted             plants: Close to between 203A and N200A; just below the leaf             junction, close to 203A and 181B occasionally striped with             close to 182D. Wing length, shade house-grown potted plants:             About 9 cm to 12 cm. Wing diameter, shade house-grown potted             plants: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Texture and luster, inner and             outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; dull to slightly glossy.             Wing color, shade house-grown potted plants: Outer surface:             Close to N155B stippled and streaked with close to 200A.             Timer surface: Close to N155A and 156D with small veins,             close to N186B and lateral lobes flushed with close to 203A;             colors and patterns on the outer surface are visible on the             inner surface. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on ten week-old     shade house-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on an upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; sweet; jasmine-like with mint             note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about nine weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 11.7 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 8.2 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:             About 3.5 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 2.2 cm.             Depth, distal open portion: About 2.2 cm. Width, at             constriction: About 1 cm. Width, proximal closed portion:             About 1.7 cm. Shape, open portion: Narrowly elliptic. Apex:             Acute to acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire; slightly             recurved. Texture and luster, front surface: Smooth,             glabrous; dull sheen. Texture and luster, rear surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glaucous and dull sheen. Color,             front surface: Distal open portion: Close to 155C and 157C;             with development, color becoming closer to 199A. Proximal             closed portion: Close to 138C and 157C; towards the base,             streaked and flecked with close to 187A; color does not             change with development. Color, rear surface: Distal open             portion: Close to 157C mottled with close to 145C; at the             center, streaks and stripes, close to 183B and 183C; color             does not change with development. Proximal closed portion:             Close to 147C, 146B and 146C variably mottled with close to             183B, 183C and 184D; color does not change with development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 6.5 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 4.1 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.1 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 1.3 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 8 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 5 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 7 mm. Shape:             Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Blunt, rounded. Base:             Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to             158D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 158D. Color,             mature, female zone: Close to 159D and 13D. Male flowers:             Quantity per spadix: About 95. Shape: Obovate. Height: About             3 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Pollen amount: Abundant.             Pollen color: Close to 11C. Female flowers: Quantity per             spadix: About 70. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Height: About             2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 159D.             Ovary color: Close to 13D.         -   Scape.—Length: About 32.8 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect, straight.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; distally, slightly             glaucous; dull sheen. Color: Close to 200B densely stippled             and streaked with close to 200A; just below spathe, glaucous             and close to 177C to 177D stippled and streaked with close             to 200B to 200C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Pathogen tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to     have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above average     tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new Caladium have     not been observed to have tolerance/resistance to other pathogens     common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40° C.     and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones,     tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a cool     dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘RFL THAI OF13-1055’ as illustrated and described. 